Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 3, 2025
Without a pause she stepped quickly across to Edwin. He wondered what she was at. She merely straightened down the collar of his coat, which, unknown to him, had treacherously allowed itself to remain turned up behind. It had probably been thus misbehaving itself since before dinner, when he had washed. "Now, I do like my nephew to be tidy," said Mrs Hamps affectionately.
Just as Mrs Hamps, having re-created her elaborate smile, was allowing it finally to expire, she had to bring it into existence once more, and very suddenly, for Janet returned to the wall. "You won't forget tennis after tea," said Janet shortly. Edwin said that he should not. "Well, well!" Mrs Hamps commented, and sat down in the wicker-chair of Darius.
He had told his father where he was going, and his father had not contradicted his remark that even if both of them happened to be out together, the shop would take no harm under the sole care of Stifford for an hour in the quiet of Saturday afternoon. Mrs Hamps replied, in her coaxing, sweet manner.
Maggie replied: "He says it might be as well to wait till to-morrow. But then you know he is like that a bit." "So they say," Auntie Hamps agreed. "Have you seen the kid?" Edwin asked. "About two minutes," said Maggie. "It's pitiable to watch him." "Why? Is he in pain?" "Not what you'd call pain. No! But he's so upset. Worried about himself. He's got a terrific fever on him.
She made a peculiar noise in her throat, not quite a sigh; rather a brave protest against the general fatality of things, stiffened by a determination to be strong though melancholy in misfortune. Three. Maggie suddenly entered, hatted, with a jacket over her arm. "Hello, auntie, you here!" They had already met that morning. "I just called," said Mrs Hamps guiltily.
She would follow him, but she would not lead. Behind them he could hear the stir of Mrs Hamps's departure. She and Maggie were coming down the stairs. Guessing not the dramatic arrival of Janet Orgreave and the mysterious nephew, Mrs Hamps, having peeped into the empty dining-room, said: "I suppose the dear boy has gone," and forthwith went herself.
And as Mrs Hamps continued to embroider the original theme of her exhortation about the Bible, Edwin looked at her stealthily, and the doubt crossed his mind whether that majestic and vital woman was ever sincere about anything, even to herself whether the whole of her daily existence, from her getting-up to her down-lying, was not a grandiose pretence.
"I'll get some chairs," said Edwin gruffly. He could look nobody in the eyes. As he turned away he heard Mrs Hamps say "Great news, father! Alicia Orgreave is engaged!" The old man made no reply. His mere physical present deprived the betrothal of all its charm. The news fell utterly flat and lay unregarded and insignificant. Edwin did not get the chairs. He sent the servant out with them.
"Little nephew that Janet's taking about!" murmured Maggie, in surprise; and to Edwin, "Do you know?" Edwin shook his head. "When?" he asked. "Well, this morning," said Mrs Hamps. "I met them as I was coming up. She was on one side of the road, and the child was on the other just opposite Howson's. My belief is she'd lost all control over the little jockey. Oh! A regular little jockey!
She need not have said that she had come because she must. The fact was in her rapt eyes. She was under a spell. "Well, I must go!" she said, with a curious brusqueness. Perhaps she had a dim perception that she was behaving in a manner unusual with her. "You'll tell your sister." Her departing bow to Mrs Hamps had the formality of courts, and was equalled by Mrs Hamps's bow.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking